Multiple nozzle vacuum cleaner



Aug. 18, 1931. A. N. SPANEL 1,319,131

MULTIPLE NOZZLE VACUUM CLEANER Filed Nov. 8, 1950 5 Sheets- Sheet 1 ZNVENTaR ABRAHAM SPANK Aug. 18, 1931, A. N. SPANEL 1,319,131

ULTIPBI NOZZLE VACUUI CLEANER I'flod Nov. 8, 1930 :5 Sheets-Sheet 2 ABRAHAM N. SPANEL 17 Troy/var Aug. 18, 1931. A. N. SPA-NEL MULTIPLE NOZZLE VACUUM CLEANER s Sheets-Shet 3 Filed Nov. 8, 1930 INVE/VI'OA' ABRAHAM N. SPANEL Patented Aug. 18, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT orrlca MULTIPIE NOZZLE VACUUM CLEANER Application filed November 8, 1930.. Serial No. 494,209.

It is well known to those skilled in the art .of household appliances that are at present two distinct types of household vacuum cleaners in use. In one of these types, high suction is produced and the operation of the cleaner depends solely upon this suction, whichis brought about by a narrow nozzle. In the other type, a relatively wide nozzle is a I used in which a brush is rotatably mounted. 19 The principal object of my invention has been to provide a household vacuum cleaner which shall embody all of the advantages of both ty es of cleaner. Anotl ier object has been to provide a cleaner having two separate nozzles, with provlsion for closing off one of the nozzles.

Moreover, my device is of such a nature that the entire nozzle unit may be easily detached fror'rl the fan housing.

Furthermore, my device comprises means for indicating the position of the shut-off device for the brush nozzle.

The above objects and advantages have been accomplished by the device shown in the accompanying drawings, of which:

Fig. 1 is a side, sectional elevation of one form of my invention, showing both nozzles of the vacuum cleaner in use.

-Fig. 2 is a fragmentary, sectional view of the form of invention shown in Fig. 1, showing the main nozzle, only, in use.

Fig. 3 isa fragmentary, face view of the nozzle unit showing the front of the shutter and the means for indicating its open and 5 closed positions.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the form of shutter used in Fig. 1: Fig. 5 is a sectional view of the nozzle unit" of a modified form of my invention.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the shutter employed in the device of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary, sectional view of another modified form of invention, showing 7 a different type of shutter. Fig. 8 is asimilar view of-another type of shutter. "Fig. ,9 is a fragmentary, sectional view of the nozzle unit of Fig. 1, and shows an at tachment sleeve in osition.

Referring to the mvention shown in Figs.

1 to 4, inclusive, my device comprises a motor 10, at the forward end of which is secured a fan casing 11, which may be of the customary spiral shape. Carried by the shaft 12 of the motor is the fan 13 of my invention.

Arranged in front of the fan chamber 11 is the nozzle unit 14 of my device. This nozzle is provided with a tubular portion 15 at the inner end of which is formed an annular flange 16, whereby the nozzle unit may be detachably connected to the fan caslng 11. The fan casing is provided with aflange 17 which extends part way around the lower portion thereof and into which the lower portion of the flange 16 of the nozzle unit fits and rests. The nozzle unit bears against the face of the casing 11, and it is held in place by a turn button 18, carried by the casing and engageable with the upper portion of the flange 16 of the unit.

Carried by the nozzle unit 14 is a main nozzle 20 and an auxiliary nozzle 21. The auxiliary nozzle is arranged in front of the main nozzle and is separated therefrom by means .of a dividing wall 22. The auxiliary nozzle is provided with a front wall 38 and the main nozzle with .a rear wall 39. The auxiliary nozzle 21 has a brush 23 mounted in its lower end, and this brush is connected by means of a belt 24 to a belt shaft 25. This belt shaft is carried by the fan 13.

The nozzle unit is provided with a tubular portion 15 which is formed with a cylindrical bore 43, and the forward end thereof is provided with a cylindrical counter-bore 26. This cylindrical bore and counter-bore form attachment openings to accommodate an attachment sleeve .to be hereinafter described. In the counter-bore is rotatably mounted the shutter 27 of my device. This shutter comprises a-cylindrical plate 28 havin a flange 29 which bears against the face 30 o the tubular member. Carried by the plate 28 and ex- I tending inwardly within the counter-bore 26 is a shutter element 31. This element is in the form of a segment of a, cylinder so that when the shutter is in the position shown in Fig. 1, this shutter element will open the auxiliary nozzle 21, but when rotated through substantially 180 it willclose this nozzle. The

counter-bore 26 preferably extends to and is formed into the upper portion of the dividing wall 22 of the nozzle unit, whereby the inner end of the shutter element is notonly properly supported but so arranged that it will effectively shut off the auxiliary nozzle. The shutter is provided on its exterior face with a handle 32 which extends preferably diametrically across substantially one-half of the shutter, and has its Outer end formed in an arrow 33 so as to be conveniently registerable with arrows or marks 34 and 35 made at diametrically opposite points on some convenient part of the nozzle unit. These arrows or'marks are made in such positions that when the arrow 33 of the handle of the shutter is in registration with the mark 34, the shutter will be open, but when placed in registration with the mark 35, the shutter will be closed. The word Open is preferably stamped on the flange where the mark 34 is provided, and the word Closed where the mark 35. is provided.

Any suitable means may be employed for keeping the shutter in position and preventing endwise movement thereof, but in the drawings I have shown a lock ring 36 mounted in a registering groove formed in the counter-bore 26- and in the periphery of the shutter. This ring may be of spring wire so that it can be sprung in place when assembling. The groove 37 formed in the shutter is made considerably deeper than the diameter of the wire, thus providing sufficient clearance for the wire ring to contract when the shutter is being put in place. Suitable supporting wheels 40 are provided either on .the nozzle unit or upon the fan casing, and adjusting wheels 41 are also provided, which are carried by the motor 10 and adjusted by means of an adjusting screw 42.

In the'form of invention shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the nozzle unit 45 is provided with an attaching flange 46 at its inner end and with a cylindrical bore 47 formed in its tubular portion 48. A flange 49 is formed at the forward end of the tubular portion and a closure.

plate 51 is secured to the flange by any suitable means. Mounted within the bore 47 is the shutter 52 of this form of device. This shutter comprises an open ring 53 and a shutter portion 54 extending forwardly of the ring portion. The shutter portion, likethe form of Fig. 1, is cylindrical, a portion of the cylinder wall being cut away, and only suflicient of the cylinder being used to cover the auxiliary nozzle. The tubular portion of the unit is provided with a slot 55 extending part way around its wall at the point where the ring 33 of the shutter will be exposed, and an actuating rod 56 is passed through this slot and into the ring 53, whereby the shutter may be actuated. The slot is of such a length that the shutter is in its fully closed position when the rod 56 reaches one end thereof, and

in its fully open position when it reaches the other end thereof. The shutter in this form of invention is held against axial movement by means of the slot 55 and the engaging rod 56.

In this form of invention, the nozzle unit 45 is, of course, provided with a main nozzle 60 and with an auxiliary nozzle 61 arranged forwardly of the main nozzle and separated by a dividing wall 62.

In Fig. 7, I show a nozzle unit 65 which is provided with an auxiliary nozzle 66 and withamain nozzle 67 divided by a central wall 68. Pivotally mounted upon the central wall 68 is a butterfly or flapper valve 69. This valve is pivotally secured at its lower edge to the wall, and it is of such a length that when movedforwardly to the dotted line position, shown in Fig. 7, it will contact with the front wall 7 0 of the unit and effectively close the auxiliary nozzle. A handle 75 may be provided for actuating the valve. In this form of invention, the front wall 70 is formed with an opening 71 which is closed by means of a plate 72. By means of the opening 71, the belt (not shown) can be engaged with and disengaged from the belt shaft 73, depending upon whether or not the brush 74 is to be used. The opening may also be used to accommodate a suitable attachment sleeve (not shown).

In Fig. 8, I show a modified form of my invention. The shutter of this figure is provided with a cylindrical member 85 which is provided with a pivotally mounted plate 86 which fits into and closes the attachment opening 87. This plate may be formed with a handle 88 of a form similar to that shown in Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive, whereby the position of the shutter; may be indicated.

When attachments are to be used with my invention a suitable sleeve (not shown) may be attached directly to the fan casing after detaching the nozzle unit, or when using the invention of Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, an attachment sleeve 90 (see Fig. 9) may be employed. This sleeve is formed with an outward extension 91 to which the attachment hose is secured. A flange 92 bears against the face 30 of the flange of the nozzle unit 14. The

sleeve is formed with a cylindrical portion 93 which fits into the counter-bore 26 of the unit and with a cylindrical portion 94 which fits into the bore 43 of the unit. The cylindrical portion 93 is of such a length that it extends into the counter-bore sufficiently far to engage with the portion of this bore formed in the upper edge of the dividing wall 22, thus shutting ofl the passageway of the auxiliary nozzle 21. In like manner the cylindrical portion 94 of the sleeve extends in the bore 43 a sufiicient distance to shut ofi' the passageway of the main nozzle 20. Obviously, when such an attachment sleeve is used, the shutter 27 is first removed from the unit. When the form of invention shown in, for instance, Figs. 5

and 8 are to be used with attachments, the shutters thereof are first removed, and then a sleeve of substantially uniform diameter is used (not shown in the drawings). It will be clear that when the shutter of Fig. 5 is removed, the closure plate 51 must first be removed and the actuating rod 56 unscrewed from the ring 53 of the shutter. When the form of Fig. 8 is to be used with attachments, if desired, the plate 86 may be raised on its pivot and a suitable attachment sleeve inserted directly into the cylindrical element 81 of the shutter.

Obviously, when suction only is to be used with my device, and when the auxiliary nozzle of either form is, therefore, shut off, or when attachments are to be used, the belt 24 is removed from the belt 'shaft 25.; Such removal of the belt is facilitated by the removal of the shutter 27 in the form of Fig. 1 or of the plate 51 in the form of Fig. 5 or by lifting the pivoted plate 86 of Fig. 8. Obviously, the belt may be readily placed upon the shaft through the same openings.

From the foregoing it will be clear that when my device is under normal use, the shutter 27 will be moved to the open position, whereby suction will be produced in both the main and auxiliary nozzles. When it is desired to produce a high suction upon the articles being cleaned, the auxiliary nozzle is shut off by the actuation of the shutter, as hereinbefore pointed out.

Obviously, some modifications of the details herein shown and described may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention or the scope of the appended claims, and I do not, therefore, wish to be limited to the exact embodiment herein shown and described, the form shown being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

Having thus described my invention, what claim is:

1. A vacuum cleaner formed with a fan chamber, a rotating fan mounted in the fan chamber, a double nozzle unit formed withan auxiliary nozzle and a main nozzle, the passageways of the nozzles being separated by a dividing wall, and shutter means for controlling the passageway of one only of the nozzles.

2.-In a vacuum cleaner, the combination with a motor and fan casing of a nozzle unit in communication with. the fan casing, the unit being provided with a tubular portion and with an auxiliary nozzle and a main nozzle, the nozzles having passageways in communication with the tubular portion of the unit, the tubular portion being formed with an attachment opening, a shutter having a plate rotatably mounted in the attachment opening, a brush mounted in the auxiliary nozzle passageway, and an operating ihaflt1 carried by the fan for driving the rus 3. In a vacuum cleaner, the combination with a motor and fan casing of a nozzle unit in communication with the fan casing, the unit being provided with a tubular portion and with an auxiliary nozzle and a main n'ozzle, the nozzles having passageways in communication with the tubular portion of the unit, the tubular portion being formed with an attachment opening, an attachment sleeve for engagement with the attachment opening, the attachment sleeve extending into the tubular portion of the nozzle unit for shutting off both the auxiliary and main nozzle passageways, a brush mounted in the auxiliary nozzle passageway, and an operating shaft carried by the fan for driving the brush.

4. A vacuum cleaner formed with a fan chamber, having an air inlet, a rotating fan mounted in the fan chamber, a double nozzle unit formed with an attachment opening, an auxiliary nozzel passageway and a main 'n ozzle passageway, the passageways having their outlet openings adjacent the fan chamber inlet, an attachment sleeve for engagement with the attachment opening, the attachment sleeve extending into the unit for shutting off both the auxiliary and the main nozzle passageways, a brush mounted 1n the auxiliary nozzle passageway, and an operating shaft carried by the fan for driving the brush.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto 

